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Prostate Cancer Treatment versus Prostate Cancer Prevention

Most forms of prostate cancer treatment are generally effective but can't be used to prevent this disease in the first place. This includes ADT - androgen deprivation therapy to suppress testosterone.

Yet some individuals confuse prostate cancer treatment and prevention.This came across recently in some misplaced comments I read on another blog. Its author imparted some accurate comments interspersed with views that misinform rather than enlighten.

For instance he wrote that "the prostate gland found under the bladder, that’s necessary for correct sexual function in men, becomes cancerous thanks to a flux in testosterone." He also advocates prostate message, implying this is another way to prevent prostate cancer. I'd like to explain why these are mistaken or imprecise assertions by first restating each one and then offering my comments.

* Assertion: "The prostate gland ...is necessary for correct sexual function." If by "correct" you mean "normal" sexual functioning, that sounds less judgmental, but is still unclear. It would be more precise to say that the prostate is a gland that helps a man produce and ejaculate semen. After surgery or other treatment, the removal of the prostate and adjacent seminal vesicles makes it impossible for a man to ejaculate. But after treatment removing or eradicating their prostate glands, men can experience dry orgasms whether or not they can sustain erections. Besides, due to erectile nerve sparing, most prostate cancer patients over time can still have an erection,- if not spontaneous, then an erection induced by medical prescriptions or devices.

* Assertion: The prostate gland "becomes cancerous due to a flux in testosterone." This statement is incorrect. Currently scientists do not know what causes prostate cancer. If is true, though, that suppressing testosterone with ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) is one of several treatment options to prevent cancer of the prostate from recurring or from from spreading further (metastasizing). ADT accomplishes this by reducingthe level of testosterone which leads to prostate cancer growth after it first occurs. In addition, a majority of men (5 out of 6), regardless of whether their testosterone level is in flux (going from low to high and back), will not have to face a prostate cancer diagnosis. By the same token a majority of men who have normal or above nomal levels of testosterone are unlikely to develop prostate cancer.

* Assertion: “Prostate milking” (or "message") is helpful in preventing prostate cancer, especially if a man doesn’t regularly ejaculate. This has not been demonstrated and is probably untrue. However, prostate messages can provide pleasurable sensations that offer a release and physical and emotional relief. That's according to men whose prostates, unlike mine, have remained healthy and intact!